Source-backed decision research

Explore how AAO evaluates evidence.

Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.

This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.

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10,847 decisions / 36,849 findings

Showing 14921–14930

NIWotherEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Computer Science / AI

Issue evaluated

other

Effect of 'any equally suitable' Kellogg language on minimum requirements

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed with the Petitioner that adding the single word 'equally' to standard Kellogg language did not change the minimum requirements of the labor certification.

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AAO agreed with the Petitioner that adding the single word 'equally' to standard Kellogg language did not change the minimum requirements of the labor certification.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-04_01_B5203; source_row=23669
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Scholarly authorshipEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Scholarly authorship

scholarly articles

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional publications and met this criterion.

Why this is useful

See how AAO evaluated whether the work qualified as scholarly authorship and what it showed in the full record.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner authored scholarly articles in professional publications and met this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-04_02_B2203; source_row=23672
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · JudgingEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Chemistry / Chemical Engineering

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Judging

judging

Why the evidence was persuasive

AAO agreed the Petitioner served as a peer reviewer of manuscripts for a journal and met this criterion.

Why this is useful

See how invitations, completed assignments, and the nature of judging were documented and weighed.

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AAO agreed the Petitioner served as a peer reviewer of manuscripts for a journal and met this criterion.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-04_02_B2203; source_row=23671
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Original contributions

original scientific, scholarly, artistic, athletic, or business-related contributions of major significance

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found the record did not show that the Beneficiary's methods of play affected numerous others, that he introduced widely utilized techniques, or that his work otherwise represents an original contribution of major significance. The Petitioner's appeal brief did not contest the Director's findings, point to specific evidence, or offer additional arguments on this point.

Why this is useful

Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.

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The AAO found the record did not show that the Beneficiary's methods of play affected numerous others, that he introduced widely utilized techniques, or that his work otherwise represents an original contribution of major significance. The Petitioner's appeal brief did not contest the Director's findings, point to specific evidence, or offer additional arguments on this point.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-01_01_B2203; source_row=23659
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Published materialNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Published material

published material in professional or major trade publications or other major media

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found that officials' assertions that their own organization's website is major media were self-promotional and insufficient. No corroborating evidence or comparative statistics were provided to show the website's readership elevated it to major media relative to other publications.

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The AAO found that officials' assertions that their own organization's website is major media were self-promotional and insufficient. No corroborating evidence or comparative statistics were provided to show the website's readership elevated it to major media relative to other publications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-01_01_B2203; source_row=23658
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · AwardsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Awards

lesser nationally or internationally recognized prizes or awards

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO found a date discrepancy between the Beneficiary's certificate and other evidence for the 2011 competition. More fundamentally, even accepting the international scope of the competitions, the record did not establish that the Beneficiary's specific certificates or standings constituted 'nationally or internationally recognized' prizes or awards for excellence in the field.

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The AAO found a date discrepancy between the Beneficiary's certificate and other evidence for the 2011 competition. More fundamentally, even accepting the international scope of the competitions, the record did not establish that the Beneficiary's specific certificates or standings constituted 'nationally or internationally recognized' prizes or awards for excellence in the field.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-01_01_B2203; source_row=23656
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · MembershipNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Membership

membership in associations requiring outstanding achievements

Why AAO was not persuaded

The AAO withdrew the Director's finding, determining that the ITTF Level 1 Coaching Certificate did not constitute 'membership' in an association and did not require outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts.…

Why this is useful

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The AAO withdrew the Director's finding, determining that the ITTF Level 1 Coaching Certificate did not constitute 'membership' in an association and did not require outstanding achievements judged by recognized experts. The 'First Class Athlete' credential was from a different organization than the CTTA or HJCAB whose standards were submitted, and even if those standards applied, the requirements did not rise to the level of outstanding achievements judged by recognized national or international experts.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-01_01_B2203; source_row=23657
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
EB-1AEB-1A · Leading / critical roleEstablishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Other

Issue evaluated

EB-1A · Leading / critical role

leading or critical role for organizations or establishments with a distinguished reputation

Why the evidence was persuasive

The AAO agreed with the Director that the record supports the Beneficiary's critical role as coach and trainer for an organization with a distinguished reputation.

Why this is useful

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The AAO agreed with the Director that the record supports the Beneficiary's critical role as coach and trainer for an organization with a distinguished reputation.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-01_01_B2203; source_row=23660
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Beneficiary meets minimum educational requirements of offered position (foreign equivalent master's degree in speech language pathology)

Why AAO was not persuaded

AAO agreed that the independent evaluation was insufficient because it credited the Beneficiary with only 111 U.S. credits (not 120), and the record did not show the master's program required a four-year bachelor's for admission. The license and certifications did not specify possession of a single qualifying degree or identify which credentials were used to obtain them.

Why this is useful

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AAO agreed that the independent evaluation was insufficient because it credited the Beneficiary with only 111 U.S. credits (not 120), and the record did not show the master's program required a four-year bachelor's for admission. The license and certifications did not specify possession of a single qualifying degree or identify which credentials were used to obtain them.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-01_01_B5203; source_row=23662
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
NIWotherNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context

Case facts

Medicine / Clinical

Issue evaluated

other

Ability to pay proffered wage from priority date

Why AAO was not persuaded

The record contained only the Petitioner's 2016 tax return, which does not cover the priority date year of 2017 or later years as required under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(2).

Why this is useful

Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.

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The record contained only the Petitioner's 2016 tax return, which does not cover the priority date year of 2017 or later years as required under 8 C.F.R. § 204.5(g)(2).
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2019-03-01_01_B5203; source_row=23664
Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Open source dataset ↗
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